On Saturday evening, March 5th, the Red River Chorale will present “A Time to Reflect and a Time of Renewal.” This beautiful, meditative concert will be performed in the sanctuary of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Alexandria, beginning at 7:30pm.
Since the performance takes place during the penitential season of Lent, the program will include beautiful works expressing the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and hope. The first part of the program includes “Timete Dominum” (“O Fear the Lord”), written in 1777 by Michael Haydn, younger brother of Franz Joseph Haydn, and highly respected by a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The work is based on Psalm 33 and expresses the assurance that those that honor the Lord will be richly blessed. Also included in this portion of the concert is “Out of the Depths”, a short work based on Psalm 130 by Mississippi-born 20th century, LSU-educated composer Robert Powell. It expresses the assurance that those who mourn will be comforted by a merciful God.
Finally in Part 1 is “Kyrie”, written in 1887 by Romantic French composer Gabriel Faure’ (1845-1924). It is a stately musical expression of the “Kyrie” (“Lord have mercy…”) from the liturgy of the mass.
The centerpiece of this concert is “Requiem”, written in 1985 by English composer John Rutter, acclaimed as one of the finest living composers. The composition includes, as do many classical compositions, settings of the primary parts of the mass, with the inclusion of several Psalms, and the beautiful motet, “Pie Jesu”. It concludes with the hauntingly beautiful, uplifting “Lux Aeterna”—“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors. Grant them rest eternal, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”
The concert will be directed by Artistic Director Dr. Burt Allen, former Coordinator of Music at Northwestern State University, and accompanied by pianist Dr. Christine Allen, Professor of Piano at NSU; organist Susan Cauley, organist at Emmanuel Baptist Church; and cello. Soprano soloist will be D’nissa Hester, Vocal Faculty at NSU.
Concert tickets are $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. They are available now from any Chorale member, at Red River Music, online at www.redriverchorale.com, www.ticket-central.org, and at the door if space is available. For more information, call (318) 484-4463.
